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    The Storefront


     
     

    eBay and Amazon can't pay your bills


    Posted at 1:55 pm by Amy Rolph

    Is it really possible to make a living selling on Amazon or eBay?

    When the online retail hubs emerged, we sure thought so. But now they're packed with distributors, and some small business owners are getting lost in the crowd.




    Here's a nail for the coffin. The New York Times quotes Dennis Ceru, an entrepreneurship professor at Babson College, as having this to say about doing business through the sites.

    “Merely being listed on eBay or Amazon isn't a sustainable business," said Ceru. "There are a lot of people going down this path that are making little or no money.”

    But there are some tips for those seeking to increase exposure through the sites.

    Have you had any luck with business using a mass business platform for distribution? Let us know.


    Know a small business you think we should write about? Contact Herald writer Amy Rolph at
    arolph@heraldnet.com.

    Return to The Storefront

    COMMENTS

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    To read other terms and conditions, click here

    (No heading)
    eBay now caters to the large seller, pushing fixed Price listings and showing search results in "best match" order. Seems that they want a more uniform buying process.

    Anyway, for those who are still selling on eBay, or those looking for a deal, searching eBay for items with the main key words misspelled in the title may be worth a try. Most searchers will never see these items, meaning less competition and most likely a better deal for you.

    A site like www.ebuyersedge.com (typojoe.com, etc) will search ebay for misspelled versions of a key word that you enter.

    The site also gives you the option of saving your favorite searches so you get an e-mail when there's a new match, giving you a jump and an advantage on other buyers. This works best for "Buy It Now"s but is good for auctions too.

    I have read that some people claim to make a living from buying misspelled listings and then re-listing them on eBay with correctly spelled titles. I don't know about that, but it should at least increase your chances of finding a good deal for yourself.

    Scott S | Dec 6, 2009 12:32 pm | 0 replies | Request removal

    Post reply


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